What you will learn:

• The legal authority and responsibility under Alabama law for planning commission and board of adjustment members - what each can do and cannot do.
• Where the planning commissions' authority ends and the board of adjustment's authority begins; the relationship between the city council and the planning commission.
• How the law says an aggrieved party can appeal a determination by boards of adjustment, building inspector, etc.

When your city decides to create a planning commission, enabling legislation in Alabama states that your commission must prepare a master or comprehensive plan. Therefore, preparing and adopting a master plan is a mandatory requirement, not an option.